Structure of Sound

by greenspacewriter 05/18/2012

*A post by Courtney Selstad*

Living in a city with a lot of noise, it is easy for New Yorkers to take sound for granted. In an attempt to tune out the blaring car horns, we often miss a lot of the variety and beauty in everyday sound. If you stop and pay attention to the sounds around you what would you hear? Does it have rhythm? Is it musical? Do you enjoy it?

While it might not be considered a concerto, sound is naturally generated by everything around us. Our daily routines and the objects we use all contribute to a soundscape. The next time you use an object, try focusing on the sound it makes instead of its particular function. Right now I’m listening to the quick clicks of my keyboard and the tiny woosh when my breath catches the opening of my Diet Coke while taking a sip. I’m creating a little song while I write this blog. “Click click woosh click”.

If my Wednesday evening can create its own soundtrack, perhaps music can be just that simple—normal sounds ordered and manipulated as we desire. Found object artist Robert Bohn became a found object musician by creating instruments out of objects discarded on the street. By knowing which objects create the desired sounds, Robert assembled a fully functioning guitar and drum out of materials not generally considered musical. It probably doesn’t sound like a Fender Strat, but I’ll bet it beats my “click click woosh click”.

In the third pop-up class with Robert Bohn on June 2nd, GreenspaceNYC invites participants to consider the properties of sound. Together, the class will build instruments by exploring the sound of found objects in the Film Biz Recycling warehouse. Robert will demonstrate some of his original instruments and then lead the class in a Found Object Orchestra using the pieces made that day. Robert will also be discussing his ideas about sound with class registrants on the GreenspaceNYC website prior to the event. We hope you’ll join us!

Class Details:
Structure of Sound: Music from found objects
Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: Film Biz Recycling, 540 President Street, Brooklyn

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